WRITTEN QUESTION E-0924/02 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. A Commission Deputy Director-General in Miami.
Date: 2002-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, United States, allowances and expenses, education grant, university

C 277 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Article 17 relates to the necessary discretion with regard to the information acquired during the course of
the official’s (former) duties.

Before officials and other servants leave the service, the Commission reminds them of their duty to comply
with the statutory obligations set down in Articles 16 and 17. The Commission expects its officials to
refrain from accepting employment if this could lead to a conflict of interest with their former post in the
Commission. Such a conflict may arise if the new activity is related to a dossier for which the official was
responsible in the Commission and involves him/her intervening against the position of the Commission
in matters covered by that dossier. The same situation occurs where the official might profit from
confidential information gained during his/her previous functions. Where the Commission suspects that a
violation of its professional rules may occur it acts immediately to check the matter, to remind the former
official of his/her obligations, and, if necessary, to take measures to penalise such a violation.

In its proposal for modification of the Staff Regulations in the context of Administrative Reform, the
Commission proposes to further strengthen Article 16 by placing an obligation on a former official to
notify the Institution if he or she proposes to take up a professional activity within two years of
termination of service. Similarly, Article 17 will be strengthened in respect of the divulging of information
not yet in the public domain.

Mr. James Currie is not required to make public his income arising from his professional activities after
termination of service. However, like all other former officials, he has a statutory obligation to declare his
income to the Commission so that,
income from new activities, cumulated with the
Commission payment, exceeds his last salary while in Commission employment, the necessary reduction
would be made.

if his total

To the knowledge of
Environment has taken up employment with BNFL.

the Commission, no other former employee of

its Directorate General

for

The process of examining the compatibility in the case of Mr. Curie (in the event of his joining the board
of directors of BNFL United Kingdom after leaving the Commission) with the rules in the Staff Regulations
is under way and should be finalised soon.

(2002/C 277 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0924/02

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: A Commission Deputy Director-General in Miami

(5 April 2002)

The following information about a Commission Deputy Director-General appeared in the October 2001
issue of the University of Miami magazine ‘Euroforum’:

The North-South Center is the recipient of a major recognition bestowed by the European Union. This
is an official program sponsored and fully funded by the European Commission that places EU high-
level officers in U.S. universities. The original list of universities (limited to eight centers) has been
exceptionally expanded by an application to host Santiago Gómez-Reino, Deputy Director of External
Relations, for a two-year period (an expansion of the basic one-year program). Mr. Gómez-Reino will
reside at the North-South Center and be available for the European Union Center and the Jean Monnet
chair of the School of International Studies. Among the experiences of Mr. Gómez-Reino are: founder
and first director of the Humanitarian Office of the European Community (ECHO) and Director of all
operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

1.
Can the Commission confirm that this is a special measure for the benefit of a Deputy Director-
General which departs from the customary rules (limited to eight universities plus no more than a one-
year secondment)?

2.

If so, what is the justification for these exemptions?

14.11.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/109

3. Were they approved by the Commission Vice-President with responsibility for staff?

Can the Commission forward a copy of

4.
programme?

the relevant provisions on secondments under this

Can the Commission quantify the additional Community budget costs of this secondment from

5.
Brussels to Miami?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2002)

The Commission can confirm that,

1.
University of Miami
Mr Gomez Reino for a one-year period, renewable at his request.

in the Commission’s

following the inclusion of the North-South Center of

the
fellowships programme, a fellowship was granted to

This individual decision was at the discretion of the appointing authority, which took into account

2.
Mr Gomez Reino’s professional situation and profile and the interests of the Institution.

The Commission can confirm that this decision was taken at the appropriate level in accordance with

3.
the empowerment given by the College in March 2001.

A copy of the brochure on fellowships is sent direct to the Honourable Member and the Parliament’s

4.
Secretariat.

5.

The cost to the Commission of a one-year fellowship in the US is estimated at around € 50 000.

The total cost of Mr Gomez Reino’s fellowship for the period from 8 August 2001 to 28 February 2002 is
€ 37 428. Expenditure for the period from 1 March 2002 to 1 August 2002 is estimated at € 21 500. The
amount for one year will therefore be about € 59 000.

(2002/C 277 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0925/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Referral of Greece to the European Court

(5 April 2002)

The Commission has decided to refer Greece to the European Court for breach of Regulation (EEC)
3577/92 (1) concerning freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime
cabotage). Could the Commission state which articles of this regulation Greece has contravened, and for
how long it has done so?

(1) OJ L 364, 12.12.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

The referral to the Court of Justice referred to by the Honourable Member concerns the interpretation of
Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom
to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) (1). The Greek circular
orders concerned date back to December 1998. This procedure does not therefore affect Greek Law No
2932/2001 on the liberalisation of cabotage.